Bullet distributor



J1me H, 19 6. c. w. YATES ET AL BULLET DISTRIBUTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Feb. 2, 1944 INVENTORS cf/AP/N M YATas KENNETH J Vosr W 3 AGENTJune 11, 1946.

W. YATES ET AL ZAGZJ 1G BULLET DISTRIBUTOR Filed. Feb. 2 9, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 2 3 l l WM 6 V pm; WW

i 66 I I INVENTORS C'HAFl/V 14/. YATES BY KENNETH J 7057 AGENT PatentedJune 11, 1946 BULLET DISTRIBUTOR Chapin W. Yates, Milford, and KennethJ. Yost, Westport, Conn assignors to Remington Arms Company, Inc.,Bridgeport, Conn., a corpora-' tion of Delaware Application February 29,1944, Serial No. 524,396

V The present invention relates, in general, to ap-- paratus forassembling articles, and, in particular,

'to an improved agitating device for supportingarticle holding plates orblocks which are adapted to receive articles in separate recesses andorient the articles in a predetermined position.

In the manufacture of articles such as cartridges, the component partsof the cartridges,

: and, in particular, the bullets are made sepations of all the bulletsextend in the same direction. Certain types of bullet holding blocksknown in the art as transfer plates embody an auxiliar plate which isslidably mounted in the holder and adapted to temporarily support thebullets in the apertures of the holding block and to be moved so as torelease the bullets whereby they may drop down through the apertures of7 the block. These transfer plates are particularly suited forassembling bullets into the mouths of loaded cartridge cases. Othertypes of holding blocks are adapted to temporarily support the 7 Claims.(Cl. 2262) bullets for transfer into other apertured plates,

, the transfer being made by inverting the super- ,7 posed assembledplates. For example, when dipping bullets into a colored lacquer bath,an apertured plate is chosen which is adapted to supeach bullet willproject from the bottom of the apertured plate when the latter isinverted perdnitting a predetermined length of the nose of port thebullets so that a portion of the nose of The present invention providesan improved shaker for supporting a plurality of bullet holding blocksand is characterized by improved performance which more than doubles therate of production of earlier types of shakers.

In the drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic showing of the 'im proved bullet distributor ofthis invention including a hopper for feeding bullets to the distributorand a conveyor belt to recirculate bullets from the distributing deviceto thehopper.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bullet distributor frameincludi'ng'an apron onto which the bullets are delivered from a hopperand guides for supporting the bullet holders.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section of the bullet distributorshowing the frame supporting means and the bullet receiving receptaclelocated beneath the distributor.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation in section of one of the bullet holdingblocks.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the bullet holding blocks.

Referring to the drawings, the bullet distributor or shaker embodies asubstantially rectangular frame indicated generally at J! in Fig.2comprising side members 12 and end members l3. Both the side and endmembers are formed of a suitable material and are of a configuration tocombine strength with lightness. "In the embodiment shown, the memberscomprise angle iron stock but other suitable material may be used. Abrace I4 is fastened between the side members l2 at substantially thecenter of the frame and is provided with a plurality of apertures [5 inthe top surface thereof for the purpose hereinafter described.

Welded or otherwise secured on the bottom of each corner of the frame'is a' substantially rectangular hard metal plate I6 adapted toconstitute a bearing surface for floatingly supporting the frame onsuitable rollers I! which are rotatably mounted on fixed trunnions l8extending laterally and at longitudinally spaced points from the insidewall of a pair of spaced parallel rails Ill. The latter are fixedlysecured at their opposite ends between the end walls 20 and .22respectively of a bin or receptacle indicated generally at 23, see Fig.3 and hereinafter described. In accordance with this construction, thedistributor frame H is movably supported by the fixed rails 19 in theupper open end of the bin 23.

The frame is given a reciprocating motion of relatively short stroke byproviding a yokeshaped connecting rod 24 which is connected. at itsbifurcated ends by suitable bearing blocks 25 to a transverse" rod 26 ofthe frame II. The opposite end of the connecting rod is pivotallyconnected to an eccentric pin 21 of a disk 28 which is keyed-to a driveshaft 29 conveniently 3 supported in bearings on the front wall 20 ofthe bin 23. When the shaft 29 is rotated, the eccentric pin andconnecting rod transmit a relatively violent shaking or agitating motionto the frame, the latter riding freely on the rollers I 1.

Referring to Figs..- 2-and 3, ran angle.--bar.-30 is shown -.mountedi'oni. the right handqend of the frame H and is fixedly secured to theend piece I3 by suitable fastening means such as Welded joints. Thevertical leg of the bar 30 is provided with a plurality of apertures 32and is-adapted to form a flange for supporting anrarticledispersingmember or ap1'ons33. sTheelatter-tisna substantially rectangular :platemrovided with transversely spaced V-shaped. notches 34 in its forwardedge and a flange/35. depending atxsubstantially right angles at itsrear end. Theflange 35 has a plurality of longitudinally disposedfs'lots36 corresponding in number to the apertures 32 of the angle bar 30 andadaptedtt-ol receive ,bolts J'hwherebmtheapron membenmaylbeadjustably lfastened to the :-bar:-3D. '.,Imaccordance withthis -.construction, (the.i-lapron member .may .be madjusted vertically with. respect: to.theif-rame l I. The apron is'made-sufiiciently; rigid=by.providing.d'epending flanges38z-along .thelsidesthereof while mpwardly andoutwardlyextending viianges= 3 9::31'6 .=provided- .-to preventcartridges. .from.. falling. off

the sides of the apron.

:isecuredl-on the forwardtendwof the movable =framell iS-"TBJI angle-barl40, the-vertical leg r of which :is provided with; longitudinal. slots42 to receive adjusting bolts 43. The -latter.,are secured l in:correspondi-ng apertures ---44 to the end piece l3 andserveatorfastentthe anglehbar -40 thereto: and to. enab1eadjustment -of:therbar 40 vertically with respect to the frame.

1 Supported on the .-brace --l 4 -1 an :angle -bar -:mem-ber 45,-.'thelower edge of v:its upright .leg being? in engagement "with .the topofthe. .brace M. :The ban-'45 is held: adjustably .inathis,posiationzwbyrmeans Mia-plurality: of bolts 46 which extend-throughsuitable, hole 4'! :in the laterally cdisp'osed. portion '45 :ofthe:bar' and .arereceived .-intthe:correspondingeapertures l5 oft-thebrace. :Suitable ;-nuts :48 eon the l,bolts-v 46 sareeadaptedtoiffastenjt'l-iev boltss -securely .-to'- .thebrace I4. :andtito-xthebar 45.

Mounted :cntheeangle members waand '45- are 'aai"fplurality 0f qguide."members 50 sand- 52 which are adapted to support the cartridge holding::bcks 0r;pla-tesin the.-.frame :ll. .Each.,guide .:memberr50 comprisesa longitudinaL rib portion 53 preferably. provided with arbevel-ledupper aedgerfl: andtaperedforward and z-rearward ends 55::and :56;respectively. The taper sat. each end cofalthe-"rib, and, in particular,.the, rear end 1' 56 1 is adapted to. correspond to they Veshapednotches 410i the. apron. 33 so.- as -to. make al-nice fit thereinforithe purpose hereinafter described. Exiten'ding. laterally from eachside of a rib 53-.and atzfsubstantially right -ang-lest thereto isa-..fiange 51 =which:is"welded or otherwise formed on the lower-redge of;the rib: and& extends from the front tvend sthereof ;--rearwardly.,'I-he length .of the fiange;.is substantially four-fifths of .--the:-length ref: thew-lb and terminates in a :downwardly; curvedtailtportionflifl. The forward end. of then-flange rzis :turnedxupatzxsubstantially right angles to 1 formzat. projection .;or. ;lip 159,.1th8 .upper. edge :of

'w'vhich': is curled over to provide a: smooth rounded ssurtace. @Inlathe ylpresent embodiment, three. of Zthesenguidemembers,;'50.-:are..mounted in. spaced tparallel relationship. onthe.,-upper plane;surfaces of the angle members 40 and 45, each guidebeing permanently fastened to the angle members by welded joints orother suitable fastening means. The guide members 52, of which there aretwo, are similar to the guides 50 but are adapted to 5 be welded to theouter ends of the angle members parallel to the inner guideso50. To thisend; each'outeli uide member. 52. has 2a, single inwardly extendingflange 51 which is substantially similar to the flanges 51. The upperlongitudinal l0 edge of each outer guide member 52 comprises an upwardlyand outwardly flared flange 54.

lThe-a-uXi-liarylframe comprisingthe two angle -=.barimembersfl sand 45and the guide members $50. and-252rlweldedixthereto may be adjusted withrespect -tothevmain frame I I by moving th angle bars vertically, soas,.t-o vary the slope or inclination of the auxiliary frame, and hencethe flanged rportions 51 and 51 of the guide members. As pointed outabove, the "rear bevelled ends of the ,guide zmembers; 50,:are.adapted-tmbelengaged in .therespective ,-V shaped notches 34ofetheiapron "33 whichhold the rear .end;p0rtions.0t the,guides s50 in,proper :spaced. parallel.- relationshipawhile permittingadjustment.of-the, guidemembers relative to.the;apron. ;In.accordan ce.withthiscon- .struction, the inclinationloflth .holding blocks which are adaptedto. be supportedomtheflanges 51,-and. 5'l ofthe.auxiliarylframerisadjustable. to correspond to .the .inclination -of.the a ron 33 -whereby the. upper; surfacesof .thecblockswill l-iesubstantially in-the plane, ofthe apron. v

.The. cartridge holding .blockstll,-v one; of. which is shownin FigsAand 5,.eomprisesafiatsubstantiallyvrectangular wooden baseportion 62, .afiber .boardtop portion-63 and a metalbottomplatelfl. As shown, aplurality. of counterboresare :formed inthe fiberboard portion in axial.alignmentrwith apertures in. the wooden portion ofthe .block. In the,present. embodiment, each holder ,blockcontains .one. hundred and,.fortyseven ,counter-bored ,apertures, but itwill be understoodthatthe.-numher-and configuration of the aperturesmay be .altered toaccommodatezarticlesofl various sizes and -weights and thattheholderblock itself may) com- ;prisenther suitablesmaterials. (Themetalwbotrtom platevfi lrmay be turned up; over theendsrof t the wooden:portion. of. :the block tqprovideadong wearing- ,surface for the endsasnwell (as vforflthe bottomf.of the holder. .Suitablezprojectionssortong-uesfifi =and Glare formed-integrally at :each end. respectively. ofthefiber bore-portion, ofdt-he holder -;block to facilitate. handlingthereof and .-to provide docking. v-means- -therefor .as: described.beloW.

:As :shown. in .E'igs.. 1 .and ..3,..;each h0lder .is adapted to .,be.slipped between 18, ,.pair. of vguide membersfill and tobersupportedtherebetween on thewflanges thereof, the. frontsedg orshoulder 64 of a holder block being.seatedbehindwthe lip portions-59.ofthe-corresponding flanges. -.'I"he ton ue BLatthe rear end oftheholder .blocksis adapted toextend beneath the for-wardnotched edge of.the apron 33andto.abutaeprojecti0n.or rib =68 which is. fastened.v tothe lapron 'and which extends transversely .across the,;apron. parallel.to its lforward edge.

The rib "68 vconstitutes a .stopmembernwhich .properly locates theholder block in thee-guide members 50 in juxtaposition to the apron.More- 70. over, .the, ribs or. stop 68 and ,rthem'lips. v59 of itheholder supporting. flanges .51: are ispacedlapart a redetermined,distancesutth .that. a lholderlblo'ck .wi-llbe securely lockedtherebetween while bdll'ets are being distributed therein." from the'aprontby 75 the shaking motion of the frame. When a"holder has beenfilled, the operator may seize its forward tongue 66 and lift the holderupwardly over the lips 59 and readily withdraw it by pulling itforwardly in the direction of motion of the shaking frame ll withoutinterrupting the distribution of bullets into the other holding blocksin the frame.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the cartridges are delivered onto thedispersing apron 33 from the discharge spout 69 of a hopper which isconveniently located above and adjacent the rear end of the apron. Dueto the shaking motion of the frame, the bullets being discharged ontothe apron will be wildly scattered over the surface thereof and willslide and roll down therefrom across the counterbored surfaces of theholder blocks 60. The construction and dimensions of the counterboresare such that each bullet will, automatically enter into an apertureheel end first in a well known manner.

As pointed out above, the holder block supporte ing frame H is mountedabove the receptacle 23 to the end that when a filled block 60 isremoved from the frame during continuous operation of the shaker,bullets rolling off of the dispersing apron 33 will be collected in thebottom 12 of the receptacle. The latter is inclined, as shown, andprovided with a discharge port 13 whereby the bullets may be removedfrom the bottom of the receptacle.

In the present embodiment, the discharge port I3 of the receptacle isadapted to discharge the bullets onto the lower end of a suitableconveyor belt I4 which is arranged to return the bullets into the top ofthe hopper 10. It will be clear, therefore, that for any one filling orcharging of the hopper, the bullet shaker may be run continuously untilall bullets have been oriented and distributed into the holder blocksand that the operators only duty is to withdraw and empty each holderblock as it is filled and to return the empty blocks back into theshaker. As each block is replaced in the shaker, it is securely lockedtherein between the projections 59 and stop 68 without interrupting thecontinuous operation of the machine. Moreover, the same shaker isreadily adapted for orienting and distributing articles of.

different dimensions and weights by varying the inclination of the apronand apertured plates as described.

As is evident from the drawings, the blocks are supported on the flangesof the guide members with the longitudinal axis of the blocks parallelto the direction of motion of the shaker frame, and, in accordance withthis construction, the blocks are withdrawn from and inserted into theframe by moving the blocks in the direction of reciprocation of theframe which greatly facilitates the handling of the blocks.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for automatically distributing articles comprising amovable frame; article dispersing means fixed to said frame; an articleholder; means on said frame constructed and arranged to support thearticle holder adjacent said dispersing means and means for moving saidframe to cause displacement of said articles from said dispersing meansinto said holder, said article holder being selectively removable fromsaid supporting means for ejecting articles from said holder.

2. Apparatus for automatically orienting and distributing articles intoan apertured block comprising a movable frame; an article dispersingapron on said frame adapted to support articles; means for adjusting theinclination of said apron with respect to said frame; a pair of spacedparallel flanges carried by said frame and constructed and arranged tosupport the apertured block in the'plane of said apron; and projectionson said flanges to removably retain said apertured block injuxtaposition to said apron.

3. In a machine for distributing articles into a holder, the combinationwith a movable frame adapted to removably support a holder and means foragitating said frame; of means for continuously delivering articles tosaid holder comprising a frame supporting receptacle having an openingin the top thereof beneath said holder, and a discharge port in thebottom thereof; a hopper adjacent said holder constructed and arrangedto feed articles to said holder above the top opening of saidreceptacle; and conveyor means ad- Jacent said discharge port to returnarticles to said hopper which fall from said hopper into said receptaclewhen a filled holder is removed from the frame.

4. In a machine for distributing articles into a holder, the combinationwith a movable frame having an article dispersing member, means carriedby said frame to removably support said holder adjacent said dispersingmember, and means for agitating said frame'whereby articles on saiddispersing member will be displaced into said holder; of means forconstantly feeding articles onto said dispersing member comprising aframe supporting receptacle having an opening in the top thereofimmediately beneath said holder and a discharge port in the bottomthereof; a hopper adjacent said holder constructed and arranged todischarge articles onto said dispersing member; and conveyor meansadjacent said discharge port to receive articles which fall from saiddispersing member into said receptacle when a filled holder is removedfrom the frame and to return such articles to said hopper.

5. Apparatus for automatically distributing articles into a plurality ofapertured plates comprising a movable frame; an apron on said frameadapted to support articles; means for agitating said frame wherebyarticles on said apron are displaced therefrom into the apertures ofsaid plate; and means for supporting said plates to enable removal of afilled plate from said supporting means without interruption in themovement of said frame, said supporting means comprising fianged memberscarried by said frame and projections on each flanged member to engage aportion of a plate to releasably retain said plate in juxtaposition tosaid apron.

6. Apparatus for automatically distributing articles into a holdercomprising a stationary frame; a movable frame mounted on saidstationary frame; an article dispersing apron fixed to said movableframe; an article holder; means on said movable frame constructed andarranged to removably retain said holder on said movable frame injuxtaposition to said apron; and means for agitating said movable frameand said apron to displace articles from said apron into said holder,said holder retaining means being ar-

